The Department of General Practice and Dental Public Health provides comprehensive clinical services that benefit both the school and the surrounding community. Department faculty oversee all undergraduate clinics and staff the Special Patient Clinic, Urgent Care Clinic, Assessment Clinic, Mobile Dental Van, Treatment Planning Clinic, Oral Maintenance and Prevention Clinic, and the Center for Health Promotion.
Faculty specializing in dental sleep medicine identify and manage patients at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or related risk factors, integrating airway screening into the undergraduate curriculum. When appropriate, clinicians refer patients to sleep physicians for specialized testing and diagnosis and also provide oral appliance therapy as part of comprehensive care.
The department collaborates with the Office of Patient Care on community outreach initiatives such as Give Vets a Smile, Give Seniors a Smile, and Give Kids A Smile, which deliver free dental services to underserved populations. Department adjunct faculty also supervise students in extramural rotation sites, including Harris Health and City of Houston-affiliated clinics, ensuring students gain valuable experience serving patients across different care settings.
Through UT Dentists, the multidisciplinary practice of UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, faculty deliver advanced, patient-centered care that extends the department’s impact beyond education and training.